Kenny describes Garda structure as ‘chaos’

Enda Kenny said Government plans for an independent police authority would return pride to the Garda.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has described the current structure of An Garda Siochana as chaotic and said Government plans for independent police authority would return pride to the uniform.

Speaking in Limerick today Mr Kenny said draft terms of reference for the new structure will be approved on Tuesday.

Referring to the series of controversies surrounding the force Mr Kenny said: “Out of all this chaos will come an independent structure for the running of the Gardai which will bring about a situation where people will know they can have trust in it, believe in it, and they can have integrity in it.”

“And those who wear the uniform of the Gardai can have pride in the job they do,” Mr Kenny said.

The Taoiseach said the current difficulties and controversies surrounding An Garda Siochana stemmed from issues that date back more than three decades but were never tackled.

“This is not an easy job believe you me. The fact of the matter is that these things have drifted for so many years.”

The Taoiseach said a clear indication of this new independent structure will be the open competition to appoint a new Garda Commissioner.

Mr Kenny also confirmed today that the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation headed by Supreme Court Judge Mr Justice Niall Fennelly, will be decided and approved by government on Tuesday.

“These are not easy times in politics. These are not easy times for anybody. But we have to manage through this in a clear steady fashion, so we can arrive at the objective that we want.

“In respect of the gardaí it is to have an independent statutory authority, and in the meantime deal with the reports that must come before us,” he added.

When asked about calls by whistleblower and retired garda John Wilson on the Late Late Show, for Minister Alan Shatter to resign, Mr Kenny said he didn’t see the interview.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We had extensive debate about this in the Dáil for the last couple of weeks. The Minster withdrew his remarks. He corrected the record; he apologised. Cabinet have (sic) moved on with two very clear decisions.

“Clarity of decision has now been arrived at. We await the reports from GSOC we await the report from Justice Cooke, we await the report from Senior Counsel Guerin.

“We await the recommendations from the Justice Committee on terms of reference and of course we will set up and await the report in due course from Justice Fenelly.

“These are all important issues they are all issues that have been around for a very long time. Minister Shatter said himself nobody is perfect and I have always been a subscriber to that myself,” he added.